Non-Muslims use Shar'i courts (let this not fool anyone)
Reader comment on item: Accept Shari'a in the West?

Submitted by P C Mani (United States), Sep 13, 2009 at 00:19

Dear Dr Pipes:

This article states that as many as 5% of the cases handled by a Shar'i court in Britain involve non-muslims. Even if it is true, let it not fool anyone. The western legal systems has its limitations. Our desire to give everyone thorough hearing and due representation in the court of law makes our legal system slow and expensive. So Shar'i court --when they are used by non-muslims-- are no different from the village councils, religious priests, marriage counsellors, and attorneys who fecilitate out-of-court settlements between feuding parties. A huge percentage of US court cases are also settled out of court -- we just don't put a religious label for what we do as a secular/civic activity.

Also, even those (muslims and non-muslims) who go to Shar'i courts propbably do so opportunistically. A person who has stolen something or is accused of adultery will probably not liek to be tried by a Shar'i court because s/he would like due representation and would like to avoid inhuman, cruel and unusual punishments.

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